Madame X Page #2

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

The rumba was

invented for you.

It suits you much better

than the minuet.

Well,

the minuet's all right,

but you can't

dance it alone.

You have to be

the most beautiful woman

in the world.

Why, thank you,

kind sir.

You make me feel

like a woman again.

Darling, no one

could possibly miss

the fact you're a woman.

Now there's really

a subtle compliment.

You know,

I admire us.

Oh?

No, seriously.

We have style.

We dance well.

We converse well.

We understand

the jokes.

Even when

they're on us?

Especially when they're on us.

We are the greatest couple

in the world.

If not

the most modest.

To life!

It's only a bore

when you take it seriously.

Well,

I'll drink to that!

To six perfect weeks.

To us.

(GUITAR STRUMMING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Where've you been?

Where've you been?

That's fair enough.

I want to kiss you,

but you seem so far away.

It's been

such a long time.

Was your trip

successful?

Yes, very.

I'm glad.

I've got

wonderful news.

I've just been appointed

Deputy Under Secretary

of State.

It could mean that

I'll get that nomination

next election.

That's wonderful.

I have to be in Washington

in the morning,

and I want you

and little Clay there

just as fast

as you can get ready.

From now on,

we're going to be together.

You know that little house

you always wanted?

I'm going to start

hunting for it.

Red frame, wasn't it?

With pegged floors

and brick fireplaces?

Clay,

while you were away...

Darling,

let's not look back.

Let's take it

from here, huh?

All right.

I've missed you so.

I've been so lost lately.

I needed to see you,

to be close to you again.

I guess I needed

to feel needed.

Don't you ever doubt

that you're needed.

I never will again.

Good luck,

Senator.

Not so fast,

Mother.

Let's not count

our constituents

before they're hatched.

You've worked hard

for that office.

Don't let anything

stop you.

I'll do my best.

Well, be a good boy,

Clay.

I will, Daddy.

A red-frame house

in the middle

of a friendly block

with good neighbors

and lots of children.

I've got the picture.

(THUNDER CLAPPING)

(ELEVATOR DOOR OPENING)

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

I've been drowning my sorrows.

You're late.

I know.

You are beautiful.

All is forgiven.

Clay got back

last night.

Oh?

I picked up the phone

a dozen times today

to call you

and hung up again.

Did you?

Phil.

That's quite a dress,

darling.

Wonderful for your figure.

It didn't seem fair

to say it

on the phone.

Well, I hope

you're not going to

say anything

I might regret.

Here,

I'll fix you a drink.

No. No, thanks.

We don't seem to be

our old merry selves tonight.

Maybe a change of locale

would cheer us up,

huh?

I'm not staying.

I only came

to talk to you.

I'm not going to

see you anymore.

Well,

that's putting it bluntly.

Don't tell me

you're afraid of your husband?

I'm in love

with my husband.

Are you sure?

You're a real,

live human being.

Clay's a blueprint

of the Anderson male.

There can never be

anyone else for me.

I realize that now.

Well, well, well,

what do you know.

We've got

a triangle going.

Phil, I don't want

to quarrel with you.

We're two adults.

We know

when something's over.

What happened

to the two adults

who knew life was for laughs?

I liked their style.

I guess I didn't know

as much as I thought I did.

Too bad, isn't it?

You're in love with Clay,

and I'm in love with you,

and no one's laughing.

You're not

being honest,

Phil.

You don't fall in love.

Who told you?

You did

on several occasions.

Did I?

Well,

I'm eating my words,

and there's a damn

bitter taste in my mouth!

Please, Phil.

I'm sorry,

but this isn't my year

for bowing out gracefully.

Look, it's over!

It should never have started,

and it's over.

There's nothing more

to say.

The hell there isn't!

I've never felt

so unloved.

Let me go.

I am in love with you.

If you don't let me go...

Please don't leave me!

I could never leave you.

I'm sorry.

The music plays for us

and the champagne sparkles,

don't write that off.

Phil, I'm going.

(GROANING)

Why, you contemptible,

rotten...

Contemptible, rotten what?

Never end

on a dangling insult.

Please, let me go!

If you promise

not to leave.

(GRUNTS IN DISGUST)

Holly!

(GASPS)

(PHONE RINGING)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

(RINGING CONTINUES)

(KNOCKING CONTINUES)

(PHONE RINGING)

WOMAN ON PHONE:

Operator.

I want to make

a person-to-person call

to Washington, DC.

The party

you're trying

to reach?

Mr. Clayton Anderson,

Lincoln 72791.

Mrs. Anderson is calling.

Well, when do they

expect him in?

Operator.

Operator, tell them

to have him call

the moment he comes in.

It's terribly important.

Thank you.

Estelle,

a terrible thing

has happened!

So you killed your lover,

my girl?

Oh, no! No, no, no.

It was an accident!

I knew what you were

the moment

I laid eyes on you.

Please, listen to me.

Your scarf was brought back

by a detective.

Fortunately,

he worked for me.

Worked?

I had you followed

to protect my son

against just this moment.

You don't mean that.

You can't mean that.

Let me tell you

how it happened.

I don't care

how it happened.

Estelle!

There's no

further need for pretense.

I blame myself.

You've been an embarrassment

from the day

you entered this house!

But how?

Tell me how.

To what purpose?

You can't help what you are

any more than you can help

what you aren't.

You've always been in

over your head.

You couldn't cope.

Just as you can't

cope now.

You're still

a little shop girl

from San Francisco.

You should've stayed

on the other side

of the counter.

Where are you going?

To call the police.

My detective

has already

called the police.

It was careless of you

to leave this.

It could so easily

turn into a noose.

In the name of God,

Estelle!

Itll be an unsavory trial.

Philip Benton had

quite a reputation

among the bedroom set.

But I was never

going to see

Phil again.

I only went

to his apartment

to tell him.

I swear

it's the truth.

Please believe me!

The prosecution will say

you quarreled and

pushed him to his death.

No!

Even if a clever attorney

gets you off,

the mud will cling.

You will never be

free of it,

nor will your husband

or your son!

(SOBBING)

I could help you.

Yes.

I have the means at hand.

Why would you

want to help me?

To be rid of you!

You'll have to give up

my son and grandson

for all time.

Do you think

I'd do that?

Then stay.

Face trial!

I will before I'll leave

my husband and child.

If you do, I'll go to court

and fight for that boy,

and I'll get him!

You're an unfit mother,

guilty of adultery!

No!

No, I'll fight you with

every breath in my body before

I'll let you take my child!

You have no child! You

forfeited him when you became

involved with Phil Benton.

Estelle, please.

Please, I'll get

on my knees to you.

I'll do anything you ask.

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